This Is Difficult?

The earth trembled, and the Thunder Fire Divine Tablet blazed brightly. All the divine characters sank into the ground.

A wave of heat surged into the sky. The entire Grandmaster Mansion seemed to sit atop a volcano, and everyone caught the scent of magma.

Flames burst from the soil, staining the buildings of the Grandmaster Mansion crimson.

As the earth shook, magma bubbled up from the three deep pits in Li Fire River. Once they overflowed, it flowed along the riverbed.

Li Fire River, dry for thousands of years, had begun to flow again.

"It's activated! It really is! We did it, we did it!"

Su Youqian was ecstatic. He leaped up, embraced Liu Chengfeng, and laughed.

"Brother, I knew you were a genius the likes of which appears once in ten thousand years—no, once in a hundred thousand!"

"We did it—"

Seeing magma flow through Li Fire River, Ye Yiqing knew what it meant. Liu Chengfeng had succeeded, and she wouldn't have to marry Su Youqian.

"It's activated—"

Ye Yitian and the others were stunned, unable to believe their eyes.

The Grand Marshal had once struggled to comprehend it, and all of them had struggled too, yet none could understand the Thunder Fire Divine Tablet or activate the Ancestral Hall. Now Liu Chengfeng had activated it with a casual wave of his hand. He truly hadn't been boasting earlier.

What an astonishing, world-shaking talent.

"The Ancestral Hall is activated! We've finally lived to see this day!"

The Grandmaster Mansion's experts were overjoyed, especially those at the Reception Divine Treasury rank and above.

At the Reception Divine Treasury rank, one could absorb the power of nature.

After reaching the Reception rank, the Grandmaster Mansion's experts all cultivated fire-attribute methods.

With the Ancestral Hall activated, fire-attribute spiritual energy filled the entire Grandmaster Mansion. Their cultivation would now progress twice as quickly.

How could they not be excited?

"Is this difficult?"

Liu Chengfeng glanced slowly at Ye Yitian and the others.

Everyone at the Grandmaster Mansion had been unconvinced earlier. Now that Liu Chengfeng had activated the Ancestral Hall with a casual gesture, even its geniuses couldn't hold their heads high.

Ye Yitian and the others stood there, awkward expressions on their faces.

"Good, good, good! The young were truly the rising generation. I'm impressed, I'm impressed!"

A burst of laughter rang out. The might of the Great Dao rolled toward them like a wave as an old man approached, surrounded by a crowd.

He wore purple robes that trailed along the ground. His long beard and hair were white, but his eyes were bright and sharp. He stood like a fierce tiger descending the mountain, and a faint tiger's roar seemed to follow him.

At his arrival, every expert in the Grandmaster Mansion bowed and cried out, "Grand Marshal!"

The Grand Marshal, Ye Ziyang, was one of Qiuchi Kingdom's three most powerful figures.

"Master Liu is young and talented. Truly remarkable, truly remarkable."

Ye Ziyang clasped his hands toward Liu Chengfeng, treating him with gracious respect and extending an olive branch.

"The Grandmaster Mansion is eager to welcome worthy talent. Would Master Liu be willing to take a position with us? We'll reserve a high-ranking post for you."

Everyone in the Grandmaster Mansion looked at Liu Chengfeng. The Grand Marshal himself was treating him with such respect—it was an honor.

"No need."

Liu Chengfeng refused at once and looked at Cheng Nan.

"It's time to honor the wager, isn't it?"

Cheng Nan stood frozen, his face red as a pig's liver, unsure what to do.

He was Qiuchi Kingdom's greatest alchemist, a genius of the Cheng Clan, and one of the Three Retinues of the Grandmaster Mansion. His status was lofty.

To be made to kneel and kowtow before everyone—what a humiliation.

"Cheng Nan, a wager is a wager. You must accept the outcome."

Ye Ziyang's voice held authority even without anger. His words were commands, not to be defied.

Cheng Nan's face darkened. He gritted his teeth, fell to his knees, and knocked his head against the ground three times before standing.

Fury blazed in his eyes, but Liu Chengfeng acted as if he hadn't seen it.

"Grand Marshal, does the agreement still stand?"

Su Youqian stepped forward to ask Ye Ziyang about their agreement.

"It does, it does. Since you young people aren't interested, I won't force you. The Old Matriarch and I have been through life and death together. If you want to learn the Fierce Beast Heart Method, take it."

Ye Ziyang agreed at once. He looked at Liu Chengfeng with a smile so warm and kindly it could not have been more so.

"Master Liu is young and talented, and my daughter is both beautiful and gifted. You'd make a fine couple. Would Master Liu be willing?"

Ye Ziyang tried to arrange a marriage for Liu Chengfeng on the spot, leaving everyone present dumbfounded.

"No!"

Ye Yiqing was the first to object.

Cheng Nan objected too, but only managed to softly murmur the words "No" at the corner of his lips.

"Your father doesn't seem to dote on you much."

Liu Chengfeng glanced at Ye Yiqing. She froze, her face turning pale, then red.

"Can we leave now?"

Liu Chengfeng was about to go. Ye Ziyang's expression stiffened for a moment, then he quickly put on another smile, though a chill glinted deep in his eyes.

The atmosphere turned oppressive in an instant. The might of the Great Dao pressed down on everyone until they could hardly breathe.

"Of course, of course."

Liu Chengfeng turned and left. Su Youqian laughed, bowed to everyone, said his farewells, then followed Liu Chengfeng out with his people.

"Come visit us whenever you have the time, Master Liu!"

Ye Ziyang called out warmly even as Liu Chengfeng walked away.

Only after Liu Chengfeng had left did Ye Ziyang withdraw his gaze. His expression was terrifying, and the experts present didn't dare breathe. Ye Yitian was no exception.

"A true man knows when to yield and when to stand firm."

Ye Ziyang glanced at Cheng Nan.

"This subordinate will remember."

Cheng Nan hurriedly bowed.

"The Ancestral Hall is activated, and Separation Fire has risen. You're the finest alchemist in Qiuchi Kingdom, and no one is better at controlling fire and dividing flames. If you can obtain the Separation Fire, you'll be richly rewarded."

Ye Ziyang looked toward Li Fire River and gave Cheng Nan his orders.

"This subordinate will do everything in his power to obtain the Separation Fire for the Grand Marshal."

Cheng Nan was overjoyed inside. He secretly glanced at Ye Yiqing, wondering whether he could ask the Ye Clan for her hand in marriage if he earned this merit.

Ye Yiqing didn't even look at him. Her expression was cold and proud.

After leaving the Grandmaster Mansion, Su Youqian was delighted all the way back. His wish had finally come true. He thanked Liu Chengfeng again and again, and wanted to drag him off to indulge in wine and women.

Liu Chengfeng refused and said he wanted to return to the Demon Slaying Division. Su Youqian had no choice but to take him back there.

When Liu Chengfeng returned, Han Qi said nothing. He gave him a look of approval and let him stay.

The Demon Slaying Division was a place for holding prisoners, but Liu Chengfeng lived there as if it were his own home.

He stayed in the Demon Slaying Division without going out, devoting himself to cultivation.

He circulated his cultivation method, adjusted his blood qi, and absorbed spiritual energy. It felt different from before.

The spiritual veins underground were especially active now. Both the water-attribute Spirit Pools and the fire-attribute Spirit Pools were overflowing with spiritual energy.

With the Ancestral Hall activated, spiritual energy had permeated the Imperial Capital.

"Something still isn't right."

As Liu Chengfeng circulated his cultivation method, he realized that even though spiritual energy had permeated the entire Imperial Capital, the portion of the water-attribute spiritual energy laced with poison hadn't dissipated.

Instead, it had hidden itself even deeper, like something lying in wait.

"This wasn't formed naturally."

Liu Chengfeng was certain that the poisonous water-attribute spiritual energy hadn't arisen on its own.

That made him curious. Why had the spiritual energy in the Imperial Capital become poisoned?

If someone had done this, who was responsible?

As Liu Chengfeng cultivated, trouble came knocking.

"Pan Nuolin of the Dragon Ascending Holy Sect has brought a team to arrest Liu Chengfeng."

A young man arrived with a group of people and demanded that the Demon Slaying Division hand Liu Chengfeng over.

He wore silver clothes and boots, with lightning embroidered on his cloak. His handsome face was cold, his bearing extraordinary, and his tone aggressive.

The dozen or so experts with him had vigorous blood qi. They had clearly come with hostile intent.

The Dragon Ascending Holy Sect had come to arrest Liu Chengfeng. The Demon Slaying Division braced for battle, and all its experts came forward.

Liu Chengfeng wasn't surprised. This day had finally arrived, later than he'd expected.

"This is Qiuchi Kingdom, and this is the Demon Slaying Division. Without His Majesty's order, no one can take him."

Before Liu Chengfeng could speak, Han Qi refused outright.

"My Dragon Ascending Holy Sect will take whoever we want. Who dares stop us?"

Pan Nuolin, the Lightning Sword Young Master, was exceptionally talented. At the Reception First Rank, he was hailed as a young prodigy in the Dragon Ascending Holy Sect. He was arrogant and looked down on everyone.

"Get lost!"

Han Qi's voice rang out coldly, a fierce aura surging toward Pan Nuolin.

Pan Nuolin moved like lightning. He drew his sword, and a flash of cold light appeared.

Han Qi was the fourth strongest in Qiuchi Kingdom, at the peak of the Reception Fourth Rank. How could he give Pan Nuolin the chance to draw his sword?

He raised a hand and pressed down in midair. With a bang, he pinned the cold blade in its sheath, leaving it impossible to draw.

Pan Nuolin's expression changed drastically, and he retreated. Speed was his forte; clad in silver, he shot forward like an arrow, moving incredibly fast.

But Han Qi stayed on him like a bone-deep shadow. His great hand pressed down like Mount Tai bearing upon him.

Pan Nuolin's heart lurched. At the Reception First Rank, he could do nothing but take a beating in front of Han Qi.

"Grand Protector!"

Pan Nuolin shouted.

A blade rang out, and thunder rumbled. Cold light burst forth as a blade slashed down like thunder, unstoppable, its blade qi stretching a hundred meters.

What a powerful strike.

Liu Chengfeng's heart tightened.

Han Qi snorted coldly. His palm shot out like a massive stele, the iron-armored glove covering his hand. It shattered the air with a heavy, mountain-like force.

His palm met the thunderous slash head-on. With a clang, sparks flew.

Han Qi wore a glove. The strike was powerful, but it couldn't hurt him.

"Iron Stele Hand."

The one who had swung the blade exclaimed in astonishment.

The swordsman was a young man of thirty, with a mature, honest look. He wasn't tall, but he was as sturdy as an ox and as steady as a mountain. The saber in his hand rumbled with thunder.

"Thunder Blade Technique. Lei Jun."

Han Qi looked coldly at the man before him. The glove on his hand gleamed with an icy light.

"Commander Han, we've come to take Liu Chengfeng into custody. We have no intention of making enemies with you."

Lei Jun, the Dragon Ascending Holy Sect's Grand Protector, explained his purpose.

"Unless His Majesty has issued an order, I ask you to leave."

The Dragon Ascending Holy Sect was flourishing, having recently destroyed the Flying Phoenix Kingdom. Its momentum was unstoppable.

Yet Han Qi refused without hesitation.

Lei Jun glanced at Liu Chengfeng. The man he had come to arrest was right there before him.

Liu Chengfeng folded his arms across his chest, watching the show.

"What if I insist on taking him?"

The long saber in Lei Jun's hand crackled with thunder and lightning as he raised it and pointed it straight ahead.

"Your Thunder Blade Technique is decent, but you're no match for me."

Han Qi's expression was cold and unreadable. His fierce aura pressed down on them until they could hardly breathe.

Lei Jun's face changed. His eyes turned icy, and lightning crackled around him.

Lei Jun was also at the Reception Fourth Rank, but he was indeed a little weaker than Han Qi.

The gap between them wasn't just in cultivation. His techniques and weapons were inferior to Han Qi's too.

Han Qi's Iron Stele Hand was a high-grade technique from the Sage Scroll of the Reception Divine Treasury.

The Heavy Gold Ice Gloves he wore were made of top-grade Vein Gold and could only be forged by a fourth-refinement swordsmith.

This top-grade weapon had been bestowed by the imperial family.

Iron Stele Hand had also been bestowed by the imperial family.

The imperial family of Qiuchi Kingdom had treated Han Qi with great kindness, and Han Qi was devotedly loyal to them. He obeyed only Emperor of Qiuchi!

The two sides remained locked in a standoff. The Dragon Ascending Holy Sect wanted to take a man, while the Demon Slaying Division recognized only the orders of Emperor of Qiuchi.

Otherwise, no matter how powerful the Dragon Ascending Holy Sect became, Han Qi would still strike Lei Jun down.

"Qiuchi Kingdom, you cannot shelter Liu Chengfeng, a wanted criminal of the Divine Dynasty. Hand him over."

A voice imbued with the Dao rang out, echoing over the Imperial Capital. The might of the Great Dao rolled in, threatening to drown the city.

"A great figure of the Great Dao Divine Treasury!"

The might of the Great Dao surged, startling the cultivators of the Imperial Capital.

There were only three experts of the Great Dao Divine Treasury in all of Qiuchi Kingdom: the Emperor, the Grand Marshal, and Lady Chen.

Everyone was stunned as a procession appeared above the Imperial City, surrounded by a crowd of experts. A team of prized steeds pulled an open carriage.

An old man with white hair sat in the carriage. He wore golden robes and looked arrogant as he surveyed the entire Imperial City from above.

The aura of the Great Dao emanated from him, crushing everyone beneath it.

"Seize the criminal Liu Chengfeng!"

The procession hovered above the Demon Slaying Division. The white-haired old man looked down at everyone.

"Come quietly!"

Pan Nuolin reached for Liu Chengfeng. Han Qi snorted coldly, and his fierce aura swept out. Pan Nuolin was sent flying.

"How dare you!"

Lei Jun roared and rushed forward. Thunder rumbled as his blade split the air, its blade qi stretching a hundred meters, lightning flashing around him.